On October 13, 2020, the DC Board of Medicine officially opened the 2020 DC physician license renewal period. DC physician licenses expire on December 31, 2020. To help its members, the Medical Society is providing resources and assistance to navigate this year's renewal process.

Below are five things that you need to know about this year's physician license renewal process:

1) MSDC WEBINAR OFFERS DETAILED GUIDANCE FROM DC HEALTH
On September 16, MSDC hosted a webinar with DC Health on the 2020 medical licensure renewal process. DC Board of Medicine staff answered (1) how to complete the licensure form and (2) tips and tricks to ease the process and avoid snafus. View the webinar video recording and DC Health presentation.  

The DC Board of Medicine recommends: Before beginning the renewal process, LICENSEES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO SCAN ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS (e.g., proof of CE) AND HAVE THEM SAVED ON THEIR LOCAL DESKTOP IN PDF FORMAT, READY FOR UPLOAD DURING THE RENEWAL PROCESS .

2) THIS IS AN ONLINE-ONLY PROCESS. As of 2018, the renewal process must be conducted online via the DC Health Licensing Portal page. For licensees who have renewed previously, you will need to log in with the same credentials as the last renewal. Do not re-register. For licensees renewing for the first time, you will need to create a new username and password.

3) CAREFULLY REVIEW THE USER GUIDE. The DC Board of Medicine has provided a detailed User Guide. Licensees should have their NPI and DEA number handy. Physicians should also note that under the second tab ("License"), licensees will see every license currently up for renewal. As stated in the User Guide directions, "licensees will have to choose whether they want to renew their license or place their license in Paid Inactive status. If you want to renew your license, do not select "Paid Inactive".

4) NOTE CME REQUIREMENTS. CME requirements for DC physician (MD/DO) licensees are: "For physicians, licensees must complete a minimum of fifty (50) CE hours between 1/1/2019 and 12/31/2020. Furthermore, of those fifty (50) hours, two (2) must be in the subject of LGBTQ Cultural Competency, and a course in the subject of pharmacology." The Medical Society has resources to assist members in complying with the CME requirements on its license renewal info center. 

If you would like to renew, but have not yet completed your CME requirements, select "I Will Complete My CE’s by 12/31/2020" in the Continuing Education section. You may complete your renewal application but will need to submit proof by uploading supporting documentation of CME prior to the end of the renewal period.

5) MSDC OFFERS RESOURCES AND ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE. The Medical Society has resources to assist members in navigating the entire renewal process and locate CME opportunities on its license renewal info center. MSDC will continue to update this page regularly.

MSDC will once again offer telemedicalsociety consults (via phone, video or email) to help physicians navigate the renewal process or check the status of a renewal application. Consults are complimentary for Active members, $100 for other MSDC members and $300 for non-members. For details, sign up here or contact Pia Duryea (duryea@msdc.org